For eight years, paramedic James Parrish has spent his days — and many long nights — responding to emergencies across Brooklyn. Working first as an EMT and now as a paramedic, he’s seen the quiet heroism that shapes life in New York City. But behind the uniform is a longtime storyteller who has been nurturing an idea he couldn’t let go of.
“I’ve loved telling stories ever since I was a little kid,” Parrish told Brooklyn Paper. “‘I’ve had this idea for a story for such a long time. I was reading a bunch of comics one day and figured, ‘you know what? I can do this.’”
That moment became “Detonator,” Parrish’s seven-issue comic series — a darkly funny, action-driven and emotionally layered story about friendship, trauma and the fragility of superheroes.
The series, completed after nearly eight years of work, follows a character named Kaz who will quite literally blow up his superhero best friend’s house in an attempt to force him to confront crippling mental illness.
“The main question that ‘Detonator’ asks is how far you would go to help a friend struggling with mental illness,” Parrish explained. “And the main character, Kaz, would go as far as to blow up his friend’s house, which most mental health professionals wouldn’t recommend.”
In Parrish’s world, even heroes can’t outrun depression, trauma or PTSD.
“His friend is a superhero who could fly to the moon and back, but won’t leave his bedroom,” he said. “He says, if you’re going to hide in your room, I’m going to blow it up and force you to get better.”
The project took nearly a decade, not because the author lacked motivation, but because he was juggling a demanding career and fully funding the work of a professional illustrator. After searching for the right collaborator, Parrish connected with artist Carlos N. Zamudio.
“My mom is proud of my stick figures, but I don’t think they would sell very well,” Parrish joked. “I want to make sure that this story has the art it deserves.”
The creative process moved slowly — sometimes painstakingly — as life kept happening around them. Parrish entered paramedic school, which “consumed a year” of his life. Zamudio took on other projects.
Those years shaped the emotional core of “Detonator.” Parrish’s real-world EMS experience — the sudden shifts from silence to chaos, the trauma endured quietly by first responders and the weight of wanting to help people who can’t always accept it — all contributed to the story.
“I could be sitting in an ambulance calmly on my phone in one minute, and then literally trying to resuscitate a baby or being attacked by a patient,” he said. “It’s a lot. And I had my own issues learning to acclimate to this profession; everyone’s fighting their own silent battles.”
Those experiences helped Parrish craft characters who are flawed, overwhelmed and trying their best — whether they wear capes or not.
“When you see someone struggling and don’t know how to help them, you can feel a little powerless and you would literally do anything,” he said. “You don’t become a domestic super terrorist, but everyone has the desire to help.”
As the series wrapped, Parrish turned to Kickstarter to fund printing and distribution, uncertain whether his deeply personal project would resonate with anyone beyond his circle.
“I always knew it was going to be great, I’m perfect,” he laughed before adding: “No, I’m kidding.”
But the response still surprised him. Of his $2,500 backing goal, he’s seen over $8,000 in support from 200+ backers. Three issues are now available on Kickstarter.
I feel really grateful and lucky,” he said. “I’m so moved by how many people are interested in the story and are supporting it,” he said. “People have emailed me about how much they like it — one of my fans told me that they cried and were really touched by one of the later chapters. As an author, there’s no better feeling in the world.”
With “Detonator” complete, Parrish is already diving into his next creative venture, a fantasy series titled “Prince Nobody” — tonally different from the dark comedy of his debut.
“I’m flexing different muscles with this new book,” he said. “I wanted to tell a story that asked the question, ‘Is it ever too late to start over?’”
Rather than sprawling world-building and ensemble casts common to modern fantasy, Parrish plans to focus on a single character’s journey. He described his influences as ranging from “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel and Claire Keegan’s “Small Things like These.”
“It’s about entitlement and prophecy,” he said. “If I were told that I was a special chosen one, I’d probably become like a lazy, entitled brat. The story is about the consequences of being told you have an epic destiny and what happens when you let it get to your head.”
With even more writing ahead, Parrish remains committed to EMS — the job that continues to ground him and keeps him committed to fueling his work.
“I would never want to do anything else as my main career,” he said. “I’m doing this forever.”
